Grand Theft Auto V is extremely popular. Over the years, it has cultivated a passionate and talented modding community that tirelessly works on new modifications to expand and push the experience to new horizons. Unfortunately, one of the most ambitious mods to date couldn't move forward.
Last week, Rockstar Games announced the acquisition of Cfx.re, a group responsible for some of the most acclaimed unofficial projects in the Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 fan communities. This acquisition aimed to bolster Roleplay and enhance the relationship with the creator community.
While this studio acquisition promised a bright future for modding the company's titles, it appears that modifications are still a contentious topic.
Take-Two Halts a Grand Theft Auto V Mod Utilizing Artificial Intelligence
A few days ago, a user known as Bloc revealed Santient Streets, an ambitious project aiming to enrich the open world of GTA V using artificial intelligence. Specifically, it allowed players to interact with over 30 NPCs who had voices and dialogues generated by AI.
According to information, this mod utilized an AI voice library from ElevenLabs, a company specializing in generating AI-based voices. Since its announcement, it garnered attention from fans and also from the game's developers.
In a statement, Bloc mentioned that Take-Two issued a copyright claim that affected videos showcasing the modification. The project was removed from the NexusMods website, and the author's account on Netlify, a platform hosting the mod installation guide, was suspended.
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"I'm a solo modder doing this in my free time for fun, so I don't have the resources to legally fight this situation. Frankly, I also don't want to spend time on this," the author wrote in a statement.
Bloc claims that the video had accumulated over 100,000 views on YouTube, and the mod had thousands of downloads on NexusMods before being taken down.
"If showing GTA V in the video is a reason for copyright infringement, how is it possible that there are millions of YouTube videos out there right now showing or simply playing the game for over a decade with no issue? This seems like an excuse to target and take a stance against the mod," the user said.
Bloc further asserts that they didn't use voices of actors from Grand Theft Auto, emphasizing that the project is free. "I'm not a lawyer, but as far as I know, this mod doesn't break any GTA or YouTube policies," they stated. However, they acknowledge that the use of AI can be controversial.
The mod's author reached out to YouTube's support team, but the response they received wasn't encouraging. In a second statement, they mentioned that they were told that Take-Two has the authority to remove videos that include footage of GTA, Red Dead Redemption, Manhunt, and more.
But now, we'd like to hear from you—what are your thoughts on this situation? Share your opinion in the comments.
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